Expression of Constitutive Endothelial, Neuronal and Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase in the Testis and Epididymis of Horse

Journal of Veterinary Medical Science

Taekyun SHIN¹  Hee-seok KIM¹  Tae-young HA¹ 

[1] Department of Veterinary Medicine, Graduate School, Cheju National University

关键词: epididymis;    equine;    nitric oxide synthase;    testis;   

DOI  :  10.1292/jvms.66.351

学科分类：兽医学

来源: Japanese Society of Veterinary Science

【 摘 要 】

References(28)Cited-By(10)The expression of three isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) were examined in the testis and epididymis of a thoroughbred horse. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated the presence of eNOS immunostaining in some germ cells in the seminiferous tubules and in vascular endothelial cells in the interstitial tissues. Interstitial cells, most likely Leydig cells, were also intensely immunopositive for eNOS. The pattern of immunostaining for nNOS was similar to that for eNOS in the testis. Weak expression of iNOS was detected in the seminiferous tubules of the testis, but intense expression was found in interstitial cells. Inducible NOS was also strongly detected in stereocilia, sperm, epithelium and connective tissue of the epididymis of normal horses. These findings suggest that three isoforms of NOS are expressed in the testis and epididymis of horse and that they play important roles in the biology of interstitial cells that produce testosterone, as well as in spermatogenesis in the seminiferous tubules.

【 授权许可】

Unknown